Linus was the one who taught the Greek hero Heracles and his brother Iphicles the alphabet and music, particularly the playing of the lyre.

One day, while Heracles was trying to play the lyre properly, Linos dared to make his student a remark.
Suddenly, Heracles lost his temper and killed Orpheus, Linus' brother, with a blow from his lyre*.

Linus himself was killed at a very young age by his father Apollo because he was boasting that he was equal to the god. Linus was buried most probably at the Greek city of Argos or Thebes. The ones who felt the most intense grief for Linus were the Muses. According to the legend, they kept mourning over his loss for a long, long time